Thursday, October 22 2009

Strategic investment in the training of seafarers was one of the recommendations made at the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Hemispheric Conference on the Rapid and Widespread Ratification and Effective Implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC 2006), in Barbados recently.

In the midst of the economic downturn and high unemployment rates, this presents a viable option for young people entering the job market, one of the goals of the “Go to Sea Campaign” launched by the International Maritime Organisation with the support of the ILO.

The Latin American and Caribbean region is already home to two of the world’s largest flag states – Panama and the Bahamas, accounting for approximately 10,500 registered ships.

These two flag states have already ratified the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006.

Other countries such as Argentina, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Bermuda, Chile and St Vincent and the Grenadines are also important flag states, accounting for a significant percentage of the world’s merchant fleet and providing many potential job opportunities.

The Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, will serve as a comprehensive and enforceable “bill of rights” for seafarers and provide a level playing field for ship-owners, once it enters into force and is implemented by ILO member states by incorporating the Convention into their national law.

With this new “Super Convention”, young people entering the industry can be assured of decent work because it provides a benchmark for minimum working and living conditions aboard ships, making the industry more attractive to job seekers.

In addition to training for seafarers, the ILO Hemispheric Conference in Barbados also highlighted measures that would be needed to begin the process of ratification and implementation.

Participants discussed the need to conduct comprehensive legislative reviews to identify gaps in national legislation and take measures to address them for compliance with the MLC, 2006.

They also noted the importance of engaging in national tripartite consultations on the Convention as well as undertaking training for both flag State inspectors and port State control officers.

Representatives of governments, including ministries of labour, port authorities and maritime administrators employers’ organisations and trade unions of Canada and countries of Latin American and Caribbean countries attended the four-day ILO Hemispheric Conference.